Friday, January 25, 2013

Double-crested Cormorant

The double-crested cormorant is a water bird that is found through out much of North America. It is often mixed up with the anhinga because both birds are about the same size and color and both have long necks. Both cormorants and anhinga are often found standing in the sun drying their feathers because they do not have the water proofing oils that most waterfowl do. This helps them both to dive under water for fish. Though both species are from the same order of birds they are from different families. The cormorant is actually actually most closely related to boobies and frigatebirds. They are also found in much more temperate climates then anhinga are. They breed as far north as central Canada, migrating down to the Atlantic, Pacific, or Gulf Coast for the winter. This bird was fishing in the Mississippi river near Lock and Dam Number 1.